Peters



(No Model.)

l Y J. B. PHILLIPS.

BREAST SHIELD.

No. 320,961. Pat'entedJune 3o, 1885.

Mmmm/J N. PTERs, Pnum-umagnpher. wnhngton. D. l:A

' NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. PHILLIPS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. i

BREAST-si-HELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.320,961, dated June 30,1885.

Application filed January 10, 1884.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. PHILLrrs, of the' city and county of NewYork, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Breast-Pads, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to avoid the annoyance and sometimesserious irritation produced by the hard surfaces presented on the innerfaces of many forms of shields. I have devised avery simple andeffective remedy for the difculty.

It has long been common to employ elastic shields with means for holdingthem in the required positions on the person, for the double purpose ofgiving a better appearance to the figure and protecting the delicateparts from pressure and injury; but as such shields have been generallymade any considerable pressure, as from a heavy cloak or other cause,induces a sufficient flattening of the shield to defeat in great partthe last-named, the protective object. I extend soft-muslin fabricacross on the interior, gathering it sufficiently at one or more pointsto give a slight conical form, but not sufficiently to allow the breastto reach the interior of the main convex portion of the structure. Thefabric may be light open wove muslin attached around the edge of thestructure by a line of stitches.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is an inner face view, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section on theline a: x in Fig. I.

Similar letters of .reference indicate like parts in both the figures.

A designates the concave convex body formed of three layers of openhair-cloth or analogous fabric having horse-hairs or analogous fiberswhich give proper rigidity and elasticity. These layers allow a freecirculation of air, are light, will spring in upon pressure, and assumeanormal position as soon as the pressure 'is released. Their edges arejoined by strips of muslin or other suitable material attached bysewing. The edge is finished with a binding.

A line of stitching, O, attaches to the inner edge a piece of lightfabric, P, which is also (No model.)`

of open material to allow a free circulation of air, and extends acrossthe interior of the shield with some slack or looseness, but notsufficient to allow it to be forced outward into Contact with theinterior of the shield. I have shown this condition as attained bymaking one gather or tapering plait, as indicated by p.

The shields being held in their proper relations to each other and tothe person by safety-pins or by other suitable means they are ready toserve successfully under all ordinary conditions. The shield A holds thedress fully out, and onlya gentle pressure of the fabric P is felt onthe person. When any sufficient pressure is received to flatten theshield, the muslin still remains as a soft protection to the person.

Each pad is made complete in itself and provided with eyelet-holes b,through which a cord, B, operates to adjust the pair of pads to fitpersons of different sizes.

In warm weather the shields may be applied next to the person withimpunity, the soft interior lining, P, insuring adequate protection ofthe person against the contact of the rough interior of the harsherportion A.

I deem it important that the material A P be open, and that a freecirculation of airis allowed in the space between the said fabrics.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions. rIhe parts A maybe stamped up from any suitable fabric properly treated with shellac orequivalent stiffening material.

The portion P may be woven, knit, or otherwise made open-work.Suficiently strong lace -may be used.

I am aware that pads have been made ventilating by arranging two or morelayers of open stili' fabric transversely to each other, and also thatsilk has been used as bearings for imperforate pads and forpads usingspiral springs. Such constructions are not sought to becovered in thisapplication. I provide a light pad, thoroughly Ventilating, with nospring other than that which is inherent in the outer walls.

I claim as my invention- The breast-pad described, consisting of theconcavoconvex body A, formed of two or more layers of open fabric, ashair-cloth, andy IOO the open-work lining P, having a less degree day ofJanuary, 1884, in the presence of two of convexity, stitched and boundas described, subscribing Witnesses. and having series of holes b, allconstructed,

arranged, and operating relatively to the cord JAMES B' PHILLIPS 5 B, asand for the purposes set forth. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my CHARLEs R. SEARLE,

hand at New York city, New York, this 8th WV. C. DEY.

